side effects from radiatiaon after being a survivor 10 year

sly
sly Member Posts: 3
edited March 2014 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
i am a cancer survivor of neck and throat cancer. I had a tumor removed from my neck in 2000. I had 37 radiation treatments. I had a feeding tube for three months til I could swallow again. I went back to work as a nurse with this feeding tube. I lost and regained taste. I have permanent dry mouth. Now after 10 years i still have so many side effects----but i am alive. I am a nurse and my favorite paients are ca patients. I know the pain and anquish that cancer brings--but i do know that you do not give up. Thats the only waay I made it this long.

Comments

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #2
    Hi sly
    I am 9 years from the first treatment and 5 years from the second, like you said I am still here and life is still good.

    Thanks for posting and welcome to CSN
  • abbimom
    abbimom Member Posts: 87 Member
    #3
    still here
    I am also 10 years post treatment. I was diagnosed with stage IV tongue cancer when I was 21. I'm also having problems right now with my throat and my teeth from radiation side effects. I complain but I know I'm lucky to be here. Best luck to you!
    Linda
  • D Lewis
    D Lewis Member Posts: 1,581 Member
    #4
    Ten years!
    So very happy to hear from all of you! I look forward to being a long-term survivor, myself!

    In fact, some time ago I posted about planning to be a very very old woman with a really bad temper, and that is STILL my plan.

    Deb
  • forme
    forme Member Posts: 1,161 Member
    #5
    D Lewis said:

    Ten years!
    So very happy to hear from all of you! I look forward to being a long-term survivor, myself!

    In fact, some time ago I posted about planning to be a very very old woman with a really bad temper, and that is STILL my plan.

    Deb

    Old age
    Hi Deb,
    I like your plan. Sounds a lot like mine.
    First cancer in 77, second in 96 and third and forth in 2010.
    Three daughters and three grandkids during that time span....
    Still surviving
    Lisha
  • Pam M
    Pam M Member Posts: 2,196
    #6
    Hi
    Sly,
    Sounds like your cancer patients are lucky to have you. Sorry you can relate to them, but glad they have a pro who can relate. Always glad, of course, to see "old timers" post here. Us "younguns" can benefit from your experience.
  • Kimba1505
    Kimba1505 Member Posts: 557
    #7
    forme said:

    Old age
    Hi Deb,
    I like your plan. Sounds a lot like mine.
    First cancer in 77, second in 96 and third and forth in 2010.
    Three daughters and three grandkids during that time span....
    Still surviving
    Lisha

    Wonderful stories...
    of survival and living life. This cancer in our lives (me and Mark) has been a nasty thing...but I must admit there is a tremendous amount that we have gained. One thing for me is a restored HOPE. I had lost hope in a lot of things. Your stories remind me that all things are possible...that is HOPE.
    Thank you,
    Kim
  • fisrpotpe
    fisrpotpe Member Posts: 1,349 Member
    #8
    forme said:

    Old age
    Hi Deb,
    I like your plan. Sounds a lot like mine.
    First cancer in 77, second in 96 and third and forth in 2010.
    Three daughters and three grandkids during that time span....
    Still surviving
    Lisha

    Amazing
    Lisha, that is amazing 33 years... that is wonderful.

    John
  • fisrpotpe
    fisrpotpe Member Posts: 1,349 Member
    #9
    Grateful
    All those fighting the fight are so grateful to have you with them on their long journey into survivorship life.

    Congrats on 10 years! Looking forward to seeing your post at 20 years.

    John
  • Pat in SC
    Pat in SC Member Posts: 5
    #10
    I'm now out 15 years and
    I'm now out 15 years and considered cured from cancer of the tonsil. I also had radiation. My treatment was with the University of Md. They saved my life. I had an expermental treatment in that they did radiation first followed by a modified neck desection. I moved to SC two years after and we opened a business which were our plans before I was diagnosit. Tomorrow I start Hyperbaric Oxygen treatments due to the fact that the condition of my lower teeth has now reached the stage that needs care. I also have the usual side affects and have learned to tolerate them. Please take care of your teeth.
  • fisrpotpe
    fisrpotpe Member Posts: 1,349 Member
    #11
    Pat in SC said:

    I'm now out 15 years and
    I'm now out 15 years and considered cured from cancer of the tonsil. I also had radiation. My treatment was with the University of Md. They saved my life. I had an expermental treatment in that they did radiation first followed by a modified neck desection. I moved to SC two years after and we opened a business which were our plans before I was diagnosit. Tomorrow I start Hyperbaric Oxygen treatments due to the fact that the condition of my lower teeth has now reached the stage that needs care. I also have the usual side affects and have learned to tolerate them. Please take care of your teeth.

    Anxious
    Pat
    I will anxious to hear how your HBO treatments go. I had two teeth pulled back in early may, and the bone is barely covered over with skin. I will be 15 years in Jan. Teeth are extremely poor/bad, dry mouth, no taste, trach two years ago from scar tissue damage.

    After HBO two years ago my first show of cancer was 5 months later on my tongue. The only option is/was surgery. Please make sure they watch very closely for many months after.

    Congrats on your 15 years. My doctor's do not ever feel your cured, they say they just can not find it and keep having fun. I look forward to middle Jan. and hitting 15 years.

    I have a paralyzed left vocal cord with extremely horse/raspy and sometimes missing voice. How is yours?

    John
  • dennis318
    dennis318 Member Posts: 349 Member
    #12
    fisrpotpe said:

    Anxious
    Pat
    I will anxious to hear how your HBO treatments go. I had two teeth pulled back in early may, and the bone is barely covered over with skin. I will be 15 years in Jan. Teeth are extremely poor/bad, dry mouth, no taste, trach two years ago from scar tissue damage.

    After HBO two years ago my first show of cancer was 5 months later on my tongue. The only option is/was surgery. Please make sure they watch very closely for many months after.

    Congrats on your 15 years. My doctor's do not ever feel your cured, they say they just can not find it and keep having fun. I look forward to middle Jan. and hitting 15 years.

    I have a paralyzed left vocal cord with extremely horse/raspy and sometimes missing voice. How is yours?

    John

    Same as John
    January 2011 be my first year out past chemo and radiation, still fatigue, depressed yes, eat like HORSE, no weight gain, I relive a year ago, of doctors, i feel better at times, but find it hard to go everyday, reading your storys have shed how lucky i am, not a great voice, but can vocalize, i still have hope, Why where we chosen? I force myself to work, come home and drag myself out of the car to get to the bed. sounds pitfiul doesn't it...I'm honest, thanks John and everyone for sharing you stories. Dennis P.S..they say I'm still out...am I waiting for more to happen, or is this it?
  • fisrpotpe
    fisrpotpe Member Posts: 1,349 Member
    #13
    dennis318 said:

    Same as John
    January 2011 be my first year out past chemo and radiation, still fatigue, depressed yes, eat like HORSE, no weight gain, I relive a year ago, of doctors, i feel better at times, but find it hard to go everyday, reading your storys have shed how lucky i am, not a great voice, but can vocalize, i still have hope, Why where we chosen? I force myself to work, come home and drag myself out of the car to get to the bed. sounds pitfiul doesn't it...I'm honest, thanks John and everyone for sharing you stories. Dennis P.S..they say I'm still out...am I waiting for more to happen, or is this it?

    well on your way
    Dennis,
    If I was to ask you is it better than when you finished treatments you would say yes. You and all of us survivor's from head and neck cancer have extremely long recovery's. Mine took almost two years to feel comfortable with my new normal yes you have a new normal to look forward too.
    Short answer Dennis is yes it will get better and along the road you will hit road bumps that your will look at and say "What?" then say "So What!' and finally say " Now What?". Knowing what you have been through there is not much you can not handle.

    God is great and he is there for all of us.

    John
  • sportsman
    sportsman Member Posts: 97
    #14
    Every Day There is Something New
    I am going on four years now as a survivor of pharyngeal cancer. Radical neck dissection with thirty five radiation treatments and chemo once a week for seven weeks. Almost every day is a new struggle but I keep up the hope and faith that the days will get better. I have as many of you do, burned up saliva glands, a burned up thyroid and other side effects from my treatment. I have problems with my teeth, severe swallowing problems (have now been dilated five times), do not sleep well because of dry mouth, problems with my speech at times and other side effects. Bottom line is that I am still alive and able to enjoy my family and friends. I must admit that sometimes I dwell on all the problems I have but I find if I can put this aside that the days are not all that terrible. My advice to everyone who is just starting this journey, after your treatment has ended is to stay busy and don't focus on how you were BC, just focus how you are going to handle life AC. God's word tells me that the pain and suffering I have on this earth is only temporal and the day I meet him this will be the day all this is gone. God Bless everyone on this site and everyone suffering from this dreadful disease.
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #15
    forme said:

    Old age
    Hi Deb,
    I like your plan. Sounds a lot like mine.
    First cancer in 77, second in 96 and third and forth in 2010.
    Three daughters and three grandkids during that time span....
    Still surviving
    Lisha

    Hi Lisha

    That is remarkable that you have been and still are a survivor all these years, All the best to you

Discussion Boards